Slate Boards
c 1850

Children used slates to do their schoolwork instead of the more expensive paper.  Like today’s chalkboards, they can be erased when the work is completed. Slate pencils were used to write on slates while doing school assignments.  They were preferred to chalk as they were more long-lasting and could be sharpened to a finer point than chalk.

Wood, slate. H 9.5, W 27.5, D 1 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 366

Pencil
c 1860
Slate. L 8, Dia .5 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6643

Pencil
c 1860
Slate. L 13, Dia .5 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6644